by Pratt, Lulu
He shook his head and leaned into me. He kissed me, but hesitated before pulling away. “I should get you back to your friends before they have a search party out for us.”
I climbed out of the back hoping I got to him enough that he’d at least think about it, rather than discard any feelings he had to avoid getting hurt. When he followed and put himself back together, I closed the back up and attempted a smile.
He pointed to the festivities. “After you.”
I put my head down and led him back to the crowd. The fireworks have long been over, and the carnival was thinning out. I walked into the midway and looked around for my friends. “There they are,” I said. “Doesn’t seem like they missed us at all.”
Mia, Camilla, and the others were still in the same area, Camilla’s lips still locked onto Bones’ while Mia and her friend were sitting close to each other as they enjoyed ice cream cones together. Bones stepped back and kissed Camilla one last time before disappearing between two vendors.
“Where’s Bones going?” I asked. When Devlin didn’t respond, I looked behind me, and he was gone. I stopped and looked around, knowing it was pointless. He was gone because he wanted to be. Still guarded and afraid to feel. I walked slowly back to my friends, forcing a smile on my face. I didn’t know what I was expecting with a man like him.
But I did know the effect he had on me. He changed me.
CHAPTER 4
Devlin
KICKING MYSELF, after five minutes or so, I went back to where I left her, but she was nowhere to be seen. I had been stubborn. I wanted her to think I didn’t care. I wanted her to think I wasn’t interested. Truth was, I was more interested in Naomi than I admitted even to myself and now she was gone.
There weren’t many people left. Vendors were cleaning up and shutting down. Rides were finishing up with the last of the revelers before locking the gates and shutting down for the night. The next day would be tearing down and loading up, leaving the entire area back to the fields and parking lots this town was used to. Another successful Fourth of July had come and gone, leaving me with a memory of a woman I could have seen in my future. I was pissed at myself for not getting more than just her first name and walking away instead of staying.
I went back to the area of the parking lot designated for motorcycles. Bones was waiting for me on his Harley Roadster, and I climbed onto mine.
“How was she anyway? You never did say,” Bones never held back. “Was she good?”
“Hang it up, man.”
Bones leaned back and gawked at me. I was in no mood to play his love ‘em and leave ‘em game.
“Hang. It. Up. Man,” he repeated slowly. “Oh, man.”
“What?”
“I was right from the beginning, wasn’t I?”
“About what?” I asked, but not really interested in his answer.
“She got to you. Did she get to you? Did you fall for this chick?”
“Of course not. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied.
“Uh-huh. We’ll see,” he nodded at the tents. “What did you go back for?”
“Forgot something,” I mumbled.
“Like, her number?”
I tried ignoring him as I started my bike. I kept my eyes peeled in the direction of Naomi’s jeep, hoping to see her again before I took off. She said she was a teacher. How many schools were there in this town?
I pulled out of the lot and rode to where she was parked. There were only a few cars and trucks left as the long line of taillights trailed out of the area. I scanned the line but didn’t see her jeep. Shaking my head, I revved up my motor and peeled out, taking the fastest exit out of there with Bones close behind me.
We went back to my place and cracked open a few cold beers until we were both so tired we crashed out.
That night I dreamed of her. She had a sweet smile and the way her long dark brown locks cascaded down the sides of her face, I wanted to wrap myself up in it and breathe her in. Her kiss so pure, her touch so gentle. I looked for her in my dreams, and each time she was spotted, I tried running to her only to watch her disappear around another building. I looked around that last building, and it opened into a beach with a few sporadic beach chairs and umbrellas shading each one. The beach was empty except for one person. A woman so far away, I could barely see her. Who was she? Had she seen Naomi? She turned slowly to me, and her face came into focus. It was Andressa. She covered her face and then looked up at me. She had transformed into Naomi and I began to run to her.
I reached out to her. “Naomi!”
I tried screaming her name, but it was barely a whisper. I could only mouth the word. She ran into the ocean as its waves violently crashed upon the shore.
“Naomi!” I tried again, but no sound emerged from my throat.
I ran to her as fast as my legs would carry me. My boots were clumsy and five sizes too big as I tried running through the sand. My leather vest weighed me down, feeling like it was fifty pounds on my shoulders. Sweat ran off me, and the faster I tried to run the slower I became until the sand enveloped my feet and began to drag me down. I was stuck where I stood only able to watch her run further into the angry water. She disappeared. The thought of losing Naomi jerked me awake.
I sat upright on the couch and looked around. Bones was snoring in the chair, and the place was dark except for a small lamp barely illuminating the room. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. It was barely six in the morning, but the image of Naomi drowning in that ocean was too real for me to get back to sleep.
Climbing off the couch, I stretched out the kinks, and went to the mini bar, grabbed my bottle of whiskey, and took a good hit off it. I opened the curtains and gazed out the large bay window and across the ocean. Not a bad temporary home if I did say so myself. I could picture Naomi living carefree with me there. I was damned lucky to have the means of living luxuriously. I held up the bottle and saluted my father. “Thanks for the gambling problem, Pops.”
Most addicts lost their ass. My father knew the secrets and played them well. He made a lot of money doing it until the wrong guys found out how much he knew. Although he wasn’t so lucky to relish in his fortune, I was. I took another hit off the bottle before setting it on the bar.
I went upstairs to my bedroom and dropped onto the bed. Images of Naomi, my hands plunging into her hair, making love to her, it all wafted through my brain, and I slowed it down savoring each moment we had together. She was perfect, her body moving over me, the way she looked at me, her kiss, her smell. I was addicted.
I closed my eyes and saw the curves my hands traced in the back of her little white jeep. I grew hard at the thought of penetrating her again. Her hair tickled my face as she loomed over me, her rocking body moving up and down on my cock. The little gasps that escaped her as she fucked me drove me wild. I rubbed myself through my jeans as my mind played it all back for me. By the time I had gotten to the end of the beautiful memory, my hand was inside my jeans and wrapped around everything I had given her. I jerked myself until I was as satisfied as I could be without Naomi over me. I forced myself out of bed and into the shower.
Walking back down the stairs in a fresh pair of jeans and a black T-shirt, I was still the only one awake. After making some coffee, the aroma filled the air and finally woke Bones from his slumber. He groaned and grunted until he was upright and stretching.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I teased, pulling two cups from the cupboard.
He grunted before making his way into the kitchen and plopping down in a chair that bellied up to the wrap-around counter.
My mind was going over ways to find Naomi. I had a few small leads but didn’t want to come off as a stalker.
I forced myself to wait until I delivered a black coffee to Bones and watched him drink it.
“Sleep good?” I teased.
“What do you think?”
“I think it looks like you were out on an all-night drunk and didn’t know where you were when
you passed out.”
“I wish. I don’t think three beers will do that to me, but I’m damned sure that god-awful chair will.”
I laughed and looked into the spacious living room. He was right. It might have looked good with the room, but it was uncomfortable as hell.
“You and Camilla seemed to hit it off pretty good last night.”
“Yeah, we did,” he grinned, nodding his head. He grabbed himself and sniffled proudly.
“Did you get her number?”
Bones looked up at me, and his grin widened. He chuckled deviously, leaning back in the chair. “You fishing?”
“Naw, man. Just making conversation.”
“Uh-huh.”
I shrugged trying to make it look like no big deal, but he had me pegged. He knew me enough to know exactly what I was fishing for.
“So, is that a no?” I gave in. I was beat. He had me.
He laughed heartily and slammed his hands on the counter. “Man, what are you doing?”
“I’m… asking you a question.”
“You’re serious about this chick? What are you going to do when we pack up and are back on the road again?”
“Who says we have to be?”
“You think I’m sticking around this rinky-dink town?”
“I didn’t say you had to stay.”
“Man,” he shook his head, obviously disappointed at me. “No. I didn’t get her number. I didn’t plan on sticking around for a reunion.”
I power drank my coffee as best I could without burning my throat, set the cup on the counter, and grabbed my phone. “Lock up when you leave.”
He didn’t protest or try to stop me.
I walked out the door and went into the garage for my bike. Climbing on, I had no idea where I was going to go, but I had to try. I opened the garage door, started the motor, and took off back to the field.
Naomi was born and raised in this town. There had to be someone at that carnival who knew her. When I pulled into the parking area, I bee-lined it to the line of tractor-trailers being loaded with all the parts and pieces that made up the Fourth of July festivities. Parking alongside one of them, I shut my bike off and watched the busy bees work diligently in the early morning sunshine.
“Excuse me,” I said, trying to interrupt a large man carrying a rolled-up tarp.
He walked by me as if I wasn’t even there. I tried again with a smaller man carrying a similar tarp with a little more struggle.
“How ya doin’?” I asked, grabbing the end of it for him.
“Thanks, man,” he inched up to the front of the roll and led me to the back of a trailer. “Appreciate it.” He nodded and walked back off the back.
“Hey, do you think you could help me?”
“What’s up?” He continued to walk.
“I wondered if you knew many of the locals here. I’m looking for someone specifically.”
“Can’t say that I can help. I travel with the crew. Not from here. But,” he said, grabbing my arm and leading me around a half torn-down tent. “See that woman over there in the green dress?”
I followed his extended finger and nodded when she was spotted.
“She lives here. I guess she helps the carnies every year. Some bigwig in the town. Maybe she can help.”
“Thanks,” I shook his hand and directed my attention to the woman in green.
“Good morning,” I said with my best smile.
“Can I help you?” she asked with a cheery tone. When she turned to properly look at me, she took a step forward. A flush filled in her cheeks and she seemed to soften instantly.
“I hope so. I’m looking for someone. A local.”
“Maybe I can help. I’ve lived here for over twenty years,” she gushed.
“She’s young, very pretty, dark brown hair. Her name is Naomi. She’s a teacher.” How did I tell a perfect stranger that I was looking for the woman of my dreams, someone I barely knew? “She is an artist as well. Said she’d show me a few pieces of her work.”
“Are you a collector?” Her eyes judged me. Apparently, if you had art on your body, you weren’t supposed to be well versed in anything beyond that.
“I am somewhat. I dabble.”
“Well, sorry I can’t help you. Although I’m well connected in this town, unfortunately, it doesn’t involve the whole town.”
“I remember she said she lived here all her life. Her father died in combat.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about this woman for just being interested in her artwork,” the woman said with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m sorry to have taken up your time,” I touched her arm lightly as I stepped away from her, and it seemed to erase any doubt she had on why I was asking about Naomi.
“If there’s anything else I can help you with,” she called out after me. “Just let me know,” her tone hinted at desperation.
I continued to walk away from her as if I didn’t hear her voice getting louder with the distance that grew between us and I quietly chuckled at her attempt.
I asked a few others in the area, but no one seemed to know anything about Naomi. Frustrated, I climbed back on my bike and rode into town.
Spotted a woman I knew from a few weeks ago, I grinned to myself. She was walking out of her apartment building looking as sexy as the day I met her. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail. A purse dangled from a strap draped over her shoulder and her barely there dress was just as tight as the one I pulled off her the night I got her in bed.
I revved my engine as I passed her and waved when she looked in my direction. Turning my bike around, I pulled it up to the curb next to her and shut it off. She was smiling and sauntering over to my side.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the hot bad playboy himself.”
“Hello, Lindsey. You’re looking good.”
“Not as good as I was a month ago staring at the ceiling over your shoulder. Why haven’t you called?”
“I told you.”
“I know. I know. You’re not looking for anything serious. Just a good time. I got it. But you could try to cram a few good times in a week, couldn’t you?” Her fingernail slid underneath my chin and glided down my chest. “I’m down.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, I’m looking for someone. I thought you might have an in.”
“What kind of trouble are you in now?”
“No trouble. I’m actually looking to do some business with someone I met yesterday.”
“You want to do business with someone, and you didn’t even get his contact information? And I thought you were as smart as you were good looking.”
“I was meaning to catch up with her again before the night was through but didn’t get that chance.”
“Her,” she said, studying my face. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Naomi. She’s young, brunette, pretty. I guess she’s a teacher here in town. She paints and sells some of her pieces.”
Lindsey studied me as I gave her what I knew. “And you only want to buy some of her art?”
“Does it matter?”
“No. But,” she stepped closer and slid her hand over my crotch. “If she’s getting some of this then I might have a problem with it.”
“I’m just interested in her art,” I lied.
I didn’t need the hassle of having to justify why I wanted Naomi in my bed rather than Lindsey. I had a part to play in this town, and if I moved outside of the guidelines of bad boy biker, it was apparently a problem.
“Well, take me to dinner tonight, have me for dessert, and maybe I can help you find her,” Lindsey said with a wink.
“So, you don’t know her or know where I can find her?”
She shook her head, her eyes glued to mine.
“Okay. Thanks,” I started my bike and put my foot on the clutch.
“What about dinner?”
“I’ll let you know,” I pulled away from the curb and left her standing there with any thoughts I might have had a
bout her.
I drove out of town back to my place, my mind was full of thought. What were my other options? Wait till Monday and comb the schools? That wasn’t weird. I was typically out of options and because I lacked the resources of people I knew in this town I didn’t know who I could turn to for help.
“Give it up, man,” Bones was still lounging in my living room on my expensive leather couch and drinking my beer. “Ya did her, it was good. Chalk it up to a good time, a great memory you can jack off to, and move on. Miss Goody-Goody isn’t right for you anyway.”
I ignored him. She was right for me. She was perfect, and I couldn’t just let her go.
* * *
Two months later and I ended up taking Lindsey up on her offer. Dinner and drinks were enough to satiate me for the time being. Problem was, I was only going through the motions. I wasn’t interested in a relationship or even casual sex. Naomi was still somewhere in my mind, but I had given up looking for her. I believed in fate, and it was meant to be, it would have happened by now.
After dinner, Lindsey and I sat on a patio watching the late August sun go down. Although I had enjoyed Lindsey’s company, I found myself measuring her against Naomi, who still visited my dreams nightly. I’d even gone to bed early a few times in the hopes of laying in her arms once more.
Lindsey was charming and interesting, but I’d only gone out with her as she’d begged me to.
“The Labor Day beach party is coming up,” she said. “Are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should. With me.”
“The beach isn’t really my thing.”
“You fucking live on one. What do you mean it’s not your thing?”
“I’m probably busy anyway.”
“You’re probably busy? I think you’re making excuses, Devlin.”
I shook my head and sucked down the drink. “No. I don’t make excuses. I make things happen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think I’m going to head out of town.”
